WE' VE MOVED! 📍 New Location: 6622 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL. 60707
WE' VE MOVED! 📍 New Location: 6622 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL. 60707
Elevate Your Ecosystem
Expertly curated aquatic life and premium habitats tailored for the serious hobbyist in the Chicagoland area.
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Trusted Brands for a Thriving Aquarium
Big Fish Aquarium is a premier aquatic pet store specializing in healthy live fish, custom reef tanks, and expert saltwater aquarium maintenance. Serving enthusiasts with the highest quality livestock and supplies since 2022, we invite you to shop our most trusted aquarium brands—selected by our team for quality and performance.
We carry top names like Fritz Aquatics, Ocean Nutrition, HYDROS, and Tropic Marin—known for reliable fish foods, water treatments, filtration, and reef care. Whether you’re running a freshwater tank or a saltwater reef, these brands are chosen for proven results and livestock safety.
TROPIC MARIN ®
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SICCE
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OCEAN NUTRITION
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CORALVUE
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TROPIC MARIN ® 〰️ SICCE 〰️ OCEAN NUTRITION 〰️ CORALVUE 〰️
Now In Stock: Explore Our Latest General Livestock Arrivals
The Amphiprion Ocellaris - False Percula Clown (Tank Bred) is a spectacular centerpiece for the modern reef aquarium, known for its brilliant coloration and sophisticated social behavior. Characterized by a vibrant orange body and three strikingly white vertical bands outlined in thin black margins, this species is a masterclass in reef aesthetics. In the "Answering Machine" era of saltwater husbandry, the False Percula Clown is highly prized for its peaceful temperament, legendary hardiness, and its ability to cohabit beautifully with other peaceful reef residents and hosting anemones.
Unlike many wild-caught species, these Tank Bred specimens are acclimated to aquarium life from day one, making them more resilient and environmentally sustainable. They are active swimmers that typically hover near their chosen territory or host, providing a constant display of color and classic movement that has made them the most iconic fish in the hobby.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Reef Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 3.5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes
The False Percula Clown is an ideal candidate for any community reef tank or nano setup. While they are famous for their symbiotic relationship with anemones like the Bubble Tip (Entacmaea quadricolor), they do not require one to thrive and will often host in corals or specific rockwork. They are high-metabolism fish and should be fed a varied diet of high-quality pellets, flakes, and frozen meaty foods—such as mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp—at least twice daily. Being tank-bred, they are generally less aggressive and more social than their wild counterparts, but only one pair should be kept per tank unless the system is large enough to support multiple territories.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Ancistrus Sp. - Lemon Drop Bushynose Pleco is a spectacular centerpiece for the modern planted or community aquarium, known for its brilliant coloration and sophisticated social behavior. Characterized by a vibrant, high-contrast yellow-to-lemon body and the signature "bristled" snout of the Ancistrus genus, this species is a masterclass in freshwater aesthetics. In the "Answering Machine" era of specialized husbandry, the Lemon Drop Bushynose is highly prized for its peaceful temperament and its ability to cohabit beautifully with other peaceful community residents while serving as an elite algae-control specialist.
Unlike many larger pleco species that outgrow home aquaria, the Lemon Drop remains a manageable size, making it ideal for established setups. They are exceptionally efficient grazers that occupy the lower levels of the water column and surfaces of hardscape, providing a constant display of color and utility.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
Diet: Herbivore / Omnivore
Reef Compatible: N/A (Freshwater)
Max Size: 4.5 to 5 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 6 to 10, pH 6.5 to 7.5
Husbandry Notes
The Lemon Drop Bushynose Pleco is an ideal candidate for a community planted tank. While they do not require a sand bed for sleeping, they do require plenty of driftwood and rockwork with caves and crevices to feel secure and to assist in their digestive processes. They are high-metabolism algae eaters and should be fed a varied diet of sinking algae wafers, spirulina pellets, and blanched vegetables—such as zucchini or cucumber—at least once daily. They are generally hardy, but a stable environment with high oxygenation is mandatory for their long-term vitality.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Assassin Snail (Anentome helena) is a powerhouse addition to any freshwater aquarium, blending high-impact aesthetics with essential utility. Featuring a striking, conical shell adorned with bold, alternating bands of dark chocolate brown and vibrant yellow, this industrious invertebrate is a master of the "biological pest control" era of fish keeping—serving as a natural control for nuisance snail populations. It is a dedicated and calculating substrate dweller, making it a functional cornerstone of a healthy freshwater ecosystem.
This hardy snail thrives in mature, established systems with a sandy or fine-gravel substrate that allows for natural burrowing behavior. While entirely peaceful toward fish, shrimp, and plants, its bold personality and predatory instincts mean it will actively hunt down unwanted trumpet, ramshorn, and pond snails, tirelessly searching for prey beneath the surface. To ensure long-term health when pest snails are eliminated, provide a supplemental diet rich in high-quality sinking carnivore pellets, protein-heavy wafers, and frozen bloodworms. Ensure your aquarium maintains a steady supply of calcium and moderate water hardness, as these mineral conditions are essential for maintaining its robust shell integrity and long-term vitality.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual invertebrate you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful (except toward other snails)
Minimum Tank Size: 5–10 Gallons
Diet: Carnivore / Predatory
Plant Compatible: Yes
Max Size: 1 Inch
Water Conditions: 70 to 80°F, KH 8 to 15, pH 7.0 to 8.0
Husbandry Notes
The Assassin Snail is a strategic choice for hobbyists looking for "functional biological management" without resorting to harsh chemical treatments. Its specialized hunting behavior—where it utilizes an extensible proboscis to cleanly consume target snails—adds a layer of fascinating, natural balance to the lower tank levels. In the context of modern aquascaping, it is widely considered the ultimate "nano-utility cleanup" species for maintaining pristine glass and foliage while naturally aerating the substrate during its burrowing phases. For maximum success, avoid keeping them with aggressive visual predators like puffers or large loaches, and ensure copper-based medications are never introduced to the environment to facilitate their inherent confidence and health.
Expert Shipping & Logistics
We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these unique invertebrates from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
The Bursa Triggerfish, also known as the Blackbelly Trigger or Picasso Trigger (V-pattern variant), is a robust and intelligent addition to the aggressive marine display. Featuring a tan body with a distinctive dark patch on its abdomen and a striking "V" marking near the tail, this species is a centerpiece of character. In the "Answering Machine" era of saltwater husbandry, the Bursa Trigger is celebrated for its interactive personality—often recognizing its owner and displaying high levels of curiosity.
This is a powerful swimmer and an opportunistic predator. While it is incredibly hardy, its "rock-moving" tendencies and appetite for invertebrates make it a species best suited for a dedicated predator tank or a fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) system. It requires a spacious environment with plenty of filtration to handle its high metabolism.
Note: Images shown are stock images and not the actual fish you will receive.
Quick Specs
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 Gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Compatible: No
Max Size: 10 Inches
Water Conditions: 72 to 78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020 to 1.025
Husbandry Notes The Bursa Trigger requires a diet rich in meaty foods to maintain its health and dental structure. Feed a variety of hard-shelled shrimp, krill, clams, and squid to help wear down its ever-growing teeth. They are notorious for rearranging aquarium décor and may bite at heaters or airline tubing, so ensure all equipment is well-secured or hidden behind rockwork. Due to their territorial nature, they should be housed with other large, aggressive species like large Tangs, Eels, or Groupers.
Expert Shipping & Logistics We’ve dialed in the logistics for national Overnight Delivery to ensure your livestock arrives in peak condition. Every order is packed using professional-grade insulation and climate-contingent heat or ice packs, designed to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey. We handle the technical side of the move so you can focus on the acclimation. Our protocol is built on getting these fish from the facility to your tank with zero compromise on health or vitality.
JOIN THE BIG FISH MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
Included:
$5 coupon for livestock every month
10 gallons of free RO freshwater with $10 purchase
2-day warranty on fish out of quarantine
Free basic strip test
Included:
$10 Livestock coupon every month
10 gallons of free RO freshwater with $10 purchase
7-day guarantee on fish out of QT Free advanced water tests
5% Discount on all purchases
Included:
$20 Livestock coupon every month
10 gallons of free RO freshwater with $10 purchase
7-day guarantee on fish out of QT Free advanced water tests
10% Discount on all purchases
Join the Big Fish Community
Dive into the conversation! The Big Fish Aquarium Forum is where local hobbyists, reef enthusiasts, and beginners alike come together to ask questions, share tank setups, and trade advice. Whether you’re troubleshooting water chemistry or showing off your latest coral addition, this is your space to connect and learn from fellow aquarists.
Why Choose Big Fish Aquarium?
Verified Livestock: Every fish is quarantined and inspected for health to ensure a thriving start for your aquarium.
Custom Reef Consulting: We design and install professional-grade reef systems tailored to your space and lifestyle.
Professional Water Testing: On-site analysis for pH, salinity, and nitrates. Learn about Saltwater Chemistry and how we maintain perfect parameters for our clients.
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